At the edge of Pigeon River Country, on Sparr Road in Gaylord, lies a small homestead that has been owned by the same family for over 100 years. Passed down for three generations, it now belongs to Peggy Ann Kusnerz, great-granddaughter of the original owners. Peggy has lovingly managed and stewarded the property to maintain its natural beauty and habitat. The land includes cedar wetlands, northern forest uplands, and an open grassland—once farmed and now restored as a managed pollinator habitat.

            Peggy’s great-grandparents, Pelagia and Michael Borkowski, purchased the then-80-acre Property in 1923 and used it for farming. After their deaths, the property was owned jointly by their children Stella and Adolph Borkowski. Adolph continued to farm the upland areas for hay and Stella kept some farm animals on the property. After Adolph’s death the property was owned by Stella’s daughter, Veronica, and her husband Paul Kusnerz—Peggy’s parents.

The landscape remains much as it did a century ago, aside from changes to the buildings and hay field. Even when it was farmed, most of the land remained wild thanks to the extensive wooded wetlands. Today the house has been modernized, with a lovely garden added to the yard, and the hay field has been transformed. Once eroded by oil and gas exploration and overrun with invasive species, it has become a lush, thriving habitat—and is officially recognized as a Monarch Butterfly Waystation by MonarchWatch.org.

The many native wildflower and grass species now flourishing on Peggy’s property today were part of a habitat restoration project spearheaded by our friends at Huron Pines. The field will serve as a valuable seed source for future restoration efforts elsewhere. Huron Pines will also become the next steward of the land, with plans to turn the property into a public nature preserve that offers educational and recreational opportunities, all while honoring Peggy’s family legacy.

With the added protection of a Conservation Easement provided by HeadWaters Land Conservancy, Peggy’s place will remain preserved and serve as a stunning example of classic “Up North” Michigan habitat. It is Peggy’s wish that the Sparr property will provide enjoyment for the general public and protection for butterflies, fauna, and flora in the future. If you, like Peggy, wish to preserve your land for future generations, contact us today!